American Lung Association

TALLAHASSEE -- The American Lung Association called on Florida officials Tuesday to bring back a nationally acclaimed anti-smoking program that has been all but wiped out by state budget cuts. The association gave the state failing grades for the amount it spends on tobacco-prevention programs and for not raising cigarette taxes. In the past five years, the state has slashed state funding for anti-smoking efforts, including award-winning TV "Truth" commercials, from $70 million to barely $1 million.

The 24 patients who have received lung transplants at Florida Hospital were assured in April that they would be able to get their follow-up care there, even though the hospital was closing its 2-year-old transplant program. Last week, however, they found out that would not be the case. The patients, most of whom need intensive weekly doctor visits, now must drive to Tampa, Gainesville or Jacksonville for that specialized care. "I'm devastated," said Kevin Przybyl, 34, who got a new pair of lungs at Florida Hospital last October and for the first time in his life was breathing easy.

Ahhhh. Open the windows and let the fresh air inside.Sounds nice. But in Florida, you are opening the house to some of the most allergenic air in the nation.Continually high rates of humidity breed dust mites and mold spores, which trigger allergies and asthma. Four seasons of ragweed and blooms create a nonstop barrage of pollen in what could be called the Sinus State.In an effort to escape the constant assault, the American Lung Association of Central Florida has overseen construction of the 1995 Health House Orlando.

The air is typically terrible in Los Angeles, Houston and Washington. By contrast, most every breath is refreshingly clean in Bellingham, Wash.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Asheville, N.C. Somewhere in between is Florida, where the air quality is decent - generally not worthy of a gold medal but not tailpipe-nasty, either, according to this year's State of the Air report by the American Lung Association, which concludes that the nation's air overall is...

GOOD CAUSE. The American Lung Association is offering a 1985 golf privilege card, good for a round of golf at each of 18 Central Florida courses for $20. Courses include Mission Inn, Mount Plymouth and Zellwood Station. For more information, write the American Lung Association of Central Florida, P.O. Box 8504, Orlando, Fla. 32856 or call (305) 898-3401.

People who donate $20 to the American Lung Association of Central Florida are entitled to a 1986 Golf Privilege Card listing 20 golf courses, which each will allow a free round of golf to donors through Nov. 30. Those interested in a golf privilege card should contact the American Lung Association office at 2737 S. Fern Creek Ave., Orlando, or call 898-3401.

People who donate $20 to the American Lung Association of Central Florida are entitled to a 1986 Golf Privilege Card listing 20 golf courses, which each will allow a free round of golf to donors through Nov. 30.Those interested in a golf privilege card should contact the American Lung Association office, 2737 S. Fern Creek Ave., Orlando, or call 1-898-3401.

PEOPLE WHO donate $20 to the American Lung Association of Central Florida are entitled to a 1986 Golf Privilege Card listing 20 golf courses, which each will allow a free round of golf to donors through Nov. 30. Those interested in a golf privilege card should contact the American Lung Association office at 2737 S. Fern Creek Ave., Orlando, or call 898-3401.

When assigned his senior project at Bermudian Springs High School, Trevor Yinger wanted to use his love of Archery to help the community. He created the "Aim To Shoot Out Lung Disease " event. The event is aimed at helping to remember three relatives he has lost. His great- grandmother, along with his grandfather and grandmother, who all died due to lung -related issues. The 3-D shoot, uses 3-D replicas of animals, in which archers can take aim at, while helping the American Lung Association . "I saw it was for the American Lung Association.

When three-time cancer survivor John Casterline of Orlando set out to conquer the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail this summer, he knew there would be times he'd want to quit. After all, he is 68, and at the hike's outset in late April he was only a few months post-surgery for prostate cancer and mere weeks from radiation treatments for throat cancer. More problematic, he was still taking the medication that he credits with helping to keep him alive in the five years since being diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

LAKE MARY -- The local chapter of the American Lung Association is looking for unique cars to showcase at its Fifth Annual Cars for the Cure event. This year's show will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 7 at Colonial Townpark in Lake Mary. Registrants are asked for a $125 contribution to display a vehicle. For more information, visit carsforthecure.com or call 407-425-5864.

ORANGE COUNTY -- The American Lung Association is looking for people to participate in this year's Climbing Heights for Lung Cancer fundraiser Nov. 8. After raising a minimum of $100 in donations, volunteers climb the 25-story stairwell in the Bank of America Center in Orlando. Local firefighters, dressed in full gear, will take part in the 512-step climb. The money is used for research and education about lung disease, the third leading cause of death nationwide. To donate or sign up, visit climbingforlung cancer.

Nick Jones has fought repeated battles with pneumonia over the years. The lung infection poses a frequent danger to the Lake County man. He suffers from a litany of chronic ailments that already make breathing difficult. Emphysema. Asthma. Bronchitis. A case of pneumonia can put Jones in the hospital for treatment with heavy-duty antibiotics and steroids. The effects linger for weeks after coming home. "It can get a little bit hairy now," said Jones, 73, of The Villages. "My lungs are just very susceptible; they're very scarred.

I strongly support the Orlando Sentinel's position that raising the state's cigarette excise tax offers a responsible solution to address Florida's budget struggle. Rather than cutting funds, this action provides state leaders with a means to create much-needed revenue. Florida sold nearly 1.3 billion packs of cigarettes in 2006 alone. A $1 increase in the cigarette tax would generate about $1.1 billion. The increase would also discourage more than 209,000 kids from becoming smokers, help 123,600 current adult smokers quit and save 32,700 lives from smoking-caused deaths.

The American Lung Association has established a toll-free 24-hour hot line to provide the public with information on chronic obstructive-pulmonary disease.A caller with a touch-tone or rotary-dial phone can hear one of five taped messages on emphysema or chronic bronchitis.The number is 1-800-999-LUNG.Emphysema and bronchitis, the two most common forms of COPD, affect 13.4 million Americans, according to the American Lung Association.

Eric Gray had only been on the job for four days when Gayle Bowman cornered him and asked, "What are you doing about lung cancer?" That was about three years ago and Gray, the executive director for the local chapter of the American Lung Association, had no good answer for her. "Today I do, thanks to her," Gray said. Since Bowman asked Gray that question, the local chapter has made a commitment to "massively increasing" awareness of lung cancer by talking about it; developing a model support group for lung cancer that can be implemented anywhere by anyone; and starting a speakers bureau.

WASHINGTON -- Health and environmental organizations filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that the Bush administration failed to protect public health and the environment when it issued new smog requirements. The lawsuit maintains that the Environmental Protection Agency ignored the recommendation of a key advisory panel of scientists who had recommended more-stringent smog standards. The suit was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of a number of environmental and conservation groups and the American Lung Association.